1. Matt Briggs Ridley Aqua Feed
NovacqTM Commercialization Update and Recent Results
Matt Briggs Ridley Aqua Feed

2. Novacq™ : A revolution in shrimp production….
CSIRO patented technology
Over past 10 years CSIRO developed a microbial process to produce a non-living bioactive substance from bacterial biofloc which acts as a metabolic stimulant in crustaceans
This process utilizes low cost agricultural by-products and fertilizers to produce a sustainable, environmentally friendly, highly effective raw material
This bioactive is harvested, dried and included in feed for shrimp and all crustacean species i.e. f/w prawns, crayfish, crawfish, lobsters and crabs, and maybe finfish?

3. What does Novacq™ do ?
NovacqTM acts as a metabolic stimulant that increases food intake and permits the animal to utilize the feed more efficiently
Because of this, the animal will grow faster (gain value &/or provide shorter culture cycle) and use less feed (improve FCR): saving money as feed cost is the major operational cost
Also appears to improve disease resilience and promote growth of larvae and juveniles
Can be used to help replace fishery resources in prawn diets - important for consumers, retailers and sustainability
And even reduce protein levels - important to help control nutrient levels in ponds and effluent discharge and minimize prodn. costs

4. How much Novacq™ is required ?
CSIRO have conducted a number of trials with their original product and seen direct relationship up to 12% - but usually recommend 10% inclusion level, replacing wheat flour
With development of new “pure” Novacq, we have now proven that can reduce to <5% of diet for same effect
Or if use same dose, promote super-fast growth or to enable use of lower quality/cheaper diets
This advantageous as provides more flexibility for feed formulators and is adaptable for specific applications
NovacqTM not heat labile (survives >150oC for 12 hours without loss in performance) so can be safely included with other raw materials during diet manufacture

5. Dose – Response curve CSIRO original NovacqTM
All diets formulated to 42% Protein,7% Lipid
Fishmeal and wheat gluten used as main protein sources
Each treatment replicated n=5
Trial run for 35 days
Survival = 84.1 ± 1.04%
Experiment
>90% Gain
Gain Rate (g/wk)
50% Gain
Basal performance
P. monodon

6. Dose – Response curve All diets formulated to 47% Protein,7% Lipid
Fishmeal and wheat gluten used as main protein sources
Each treatment replicated n=5
Trial run for 40 days from 1g av wt.
Survival = 98 ± 2%
70%
Gain
Using a dose-response evaluation strategy we have seen significant improvements with inclusion at even the lowest levels, but best performance at around the 10 to 15% inclusion level.
48%
Gain
Basal performance

7. Improved potency “pure” NovacqTM
P. monodon
Trial run at CSIRO, Bribie Island over 4 weeks with 12g shrimp 7

8. Data on growth, FCR, survival and resilience to AHPND challenge
Latest Trial on Effects of NovacqTM on P. vannamei
In June completed a 40d tank trial with Ridley “pure” NovacqTM in Fish Vet Group lab tank facilities in Chonburi, Thailand
Data on growth, FCR, survival and resilience to AHPND challenge
Tested high protein CSIRO lab diets in dose rate trial with diets containing 0-10% of NovacqTM against Thai commercial
control feed
P. vannamei

9. Trial parameters and results
Trial used 1 g SPF P. vannamei juveniles
Each diet with 5 replicate tanks (500L) containing 10 shrimp fed each diet 4 times/day (to satiation) over a 40 day period
Growth rate 50% increase at 5% NovacqTM and 70% increase (with 20% decrease in FCR) at 10% NovacqTM inclusion
Also performed AHPND challenge test with shrimp fed each diet – results indicated improved resilience with increasing inclusion of NovacqTM
P. vannamei

10. Results from Feeding trial with “pure” NovacqTM
P. vannamei

11. Results from Feeding trial with “pure” NovacqTM
P. vannamei

12. Survival to AHPND challenge trial with “pure” NovacqTM

13. Effect of NovacqTM on Reducing dietary protein levels
A previous trial conducted at CSIRO looked at the effects of varying levels of NovacqTM in diets for 3g juvenile P. monodon in clearwater laboratory tanks. Graded levels of protein in the diets were supplemented by either 0, 5 or 10% of CSIRO-produced NovacqTM
Results after the 6 week study showed that the addition of NovacqTM improved feed intake, growth and FCR at each protein and NovacqTM inclusion level
Results also showed that dietary protein could be offset through the inclusion of NovacqTM which results in cost savings and environmental improvements
P. monodon

14. Effect of NovacqTM on growth rate at different dietary protein levels
P. monodon

15. Effect of NovacqTM on FCR at different dietary protein levels
P. monodon

16. Effect of NovacqTM on Reducing dietary protein levels
Another recent trial conducted by CSIRO, looked at the effects of varying levels of protein and “pure” NovacqTM in diets for 5g juvenile P. monodon in clearwater laboratory tanks.
A constant level of protein was supplemented by graded levels of NovacqTM, and a constant level of NovacqTM was tested at various dietary protein levels to find the optimum combination
Results after the 6 week study confirmed previous results that dietary protein levels can be reduced from 48% to 36-40% in combination with 5% NovacqTM and that growth, survival and FCR rates are actually improved
And that increasing levels of “pure” NovacqTM up to 7.5% in the diet increased growth, survival and FCR rates, independent of dietary protein level
P. monodon

17. Effect of graded levels of NovacqTM at constant dietary protein level
Effect of NovacqTM on weight gain at different dietary protein levels
Effect of graded levels of NovacqTM at constant dietary protein level

18. What does Novacq™ look like ? Live under the microscope
Our clear-water laboratory systems are state-of-the art facilities in Australia. Ultraclean water, heated to constant temperature at high-flow rates and oxygen ensure that it is ONLY the differences in feeds that affect our results

19. CSIRO Novacq China Novacq
Our clear-water laboratory systems are state-of-the art facilities in Australia. Ultraclean water, heated to constant temperature at high-flow rates and oxygen ensure that it is ONLY the differences in feeds that affect our results
China Novacq

20. What does “pure” Novacq™ look like ?
On harvesting “pure” NovacqTM in GCMA ponds
Our clear-water laboratory systems are state-of-the art facilities in Australia. Ultraclean water, heated to constant temperature at high-flow rates and oxygen ensure that it is ONLY the differences in feeds that affect our results
Partially Dry
Wet

21. What does “pure” Novacq™ look like ?
After drying/processing
“pure” NovacqTM
Our clear-water laboratory systems are state-of-the art facilities in Australia. Ultraclean water, heated to constant temperature at high-flow rates and oxygen ensure that it is ONLY the differences in feeds that affect our results
After drying
After grinding

22. Novacq™ Commercialization
Since 2009 Ridley has been working with CSIRO to evaluate NovacqTM and in 2013 signed an exclusive agreement to produce and market the raw material in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines initially, then in 2015 added Thailand
CSIRO also signed exclusive deals with Gentech group for China and Viet Uc co. for Vietnam
Other countries will come online later – CSIRO currently considering Ecuador and Mexico and about to set up trials there
These groups are also currently producing and marketing of NovacqTM (called OBMTM in China)
To date, Ridley have refined the original production process to produce a new “pure” version on a continual basis without effluent discharge

23. Ridleys NovacqTM Production
At GCMA produced 3 mt of “pure” NovacqTM and 15 mt of “CSIRO-style” mixed NovacqTM which was used in commercial trials last season (with GCMA and APF)
Now securing second stage commercial pilot at local prawn farm where we will take experience from GCMA and scale up production to produce enough “pure” Novacq to satisfy our Australian customers (and some for Asian trials)
Will start production this spring in 3 ha to produce 300 mt of pure NovacqTM for further trials, then expand up to 8 ha to produce 800 mt in 2016 (enough for entire Australian industry)
Next step will be to replicate and scale up to commercial-scale farm (11 ha up to 100 ha producing 10,000 mt by 2019) in Thailand to service our Asian customers. Negotiating for site now under Thai BOI

24. Ridleys NovacqTM Pond Trials

25. Using 10% of CSIRO “mixed” NovacqTM
Commercial evaluation in Australia in P. monodon farm 2011/12
5 x 1ha pond per diet
Pond Data
0.27 g/d
22%
0.21 g/d
Shrimp weight (g)
Survival
85% Novacq
78% Control
Using 10% of CSIRO “mixed” NovacqTM
On-Farm Data
Laboratory Data
21%
Relative Gain
Comm.
Comm.
+ NovacqTM 25

26. Commercial evaluation in APF P. monodon farm 2014/15
Growth rate to size (g/d)
Weight (g)
MR (g/d)
MR+ Novacq (g/d) 10
0.14
0.15 15
0.19 20
0.22
0.23 25
0.24
0.25 30
0.26
0.28

27. Commercial evaluation in GCMA P. monodon farm 2014/15
Conducted a trial with 4 * 1 ha ponds fed Ridley MR including 10% of CSIRO-style NovacqTM against 23 * 1 ha ponds fed the same MR diet without NovacqTM
Density
pond area
Feed fed
Production
Mean wt
Survival
FCR
DOC
Growth rate
(no/m2)
(ha)
(mt)
(mt/pond)
(mt/ha)
(g)
(%)
(days)
(g/wk)
Control
41.4
0.97
22.0
14.8
15.2
46.5
81%
1.49
212
1.53
Novacq
40.1
0.94
24.6
15.8
16.8
44.5
95%
1.55
213
1.46
Final production rates increased by 1.6 mt/ha due largely to increased survival rates.
Economic analysis of the final farm data showed that even at a 20% increase in feed cost (due to inclusion of NovacqTM) farm profit margin increased by 6% to provide an increase in revenue of nearly $14,000/1 ha pond

28. Future NovacqTM plans for Ridley Aqua Feed
Further refinements of pure Novacq™ production and processing technologies together with UAT
Scaling up of “pure” Novacq™ production facilities in Australia and Asian territories
Promotion/licensing of new technologies to current/future licensees through CSIRO
Further testing of Novacq™ in pond feeding trials in both Australia & Asia (shrimp and other crustaceans) with commercial partners
Introduction of product to feed mills and farmers throughout Asia
Further elucidation of the mode of action of Novacq™ on growth, feeding efficiency & disease-resilience
Continued exploration of novel applications for the product – i.e. in larval/brood diets & new species including finfish

29. Thank you